A driving licence in Bangladesh is classified in two ways. The first is the type of licence: learner, non-professional or professional. The second is the vehicle category it covers. BRTA’s learner application form lists seven categories: motorcycle, three-wheeler, light, medium, heavy, special-type vehicles and vehicles for persons with disabilities.
Private drivers need a non-professional licence in the categories they drive, often light and motorcycle. Anyone who drives for pay, including truck, bus and pickup drivers, needs a professional licence in the right category.
Licence types at a glance
| Licence type | Who it is for | Minimum age | Validity | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Learner | Anyone preparing for the driving test | 18 (21 if applying for professional) | Until you pass and get your licence | Tk 518 for one category, Tk 748 for two |
| Non-professional | People who drive their own vehicle | 18 | 10 years | Tk 4,557 |
| Professional | People who drive for a salary or fare | 21 | 5 years | Tk 2,832 |
The ages come from section 6(2) of the Road Transport Act 2018 and BRTA’s learner application form. The fees are the ones reported by UNB after the December 2022 fee revision; confirm them on the BRTA Service Portal before you pay.
Learner licence
Every driving licence starts with a learner licence. You apply for it on the BRTA Service Portal, choose whether you are aiming for a professional or non-professional licence, and tick the vehicle categories you want. The fee is Tk 518 for one category and Tk 748 for two.
The learner licence lets you practise driving and gives you a test date. On test day, you sit a written test, an oral test and a practical driving test at your BRTA circle office. The standard wait for a test has been about two months. Since November 2024, BRTA has let applicants pay Tk 2,000 to Tk 5,000 for an earlier slot, depending on how soon they want it, as risingbd reported.
Once you pass, you apply for the smart card licence in the same categories you were tested on.
Professional and non-professional licences
The difference between the two is whether you are paid to drive. A non-professional licence is for people who drive their own car or motorcycle, or a family vehicle. A professional licence is for anyone who drives as a job: company drivers, truck and pickup drivers, bus drivers and ride-share drivers.
| Non-professional | Professional | |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum age | 18 | 21 |
| Education | No minimum set in the Act | Class 8 pass or equivalent |
| Validity | 10 years | 5 years |
| Smart card fee | Tk 4,557 | Tk 2,832 |
| Dope test | Not required | Required for new licences and renewals since 30 January 2022 |
The professional licence costs less but has to be renewed twice as often. It also comes with a dope test, which The Daily Star reported became mandatory for professional licences from 30 January 2022.
If you drive a private car today and later want to drive for a living, you need to apply for a professional licence.
The seven vehicle categories
BRTA’s learner application form (Form-1) lists seven vehicle categories. You tick the ones you want, and each one you choose is tested.
| Category | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Motorcycle | Two-wheeled motor vehicles |
| Three-wheeler | Autorickshaws (CNG), motorcycle-rickshaws and autotempos |
| Light motor vehicle | Vehicles below the medium weight band, typically cars, jeeps, microbuses and pickups |
| Medium motor vehicle | Vehicles with a registered laden weight of 7,501 to 12,000 kg |
| Heavy motor vehicle | Vehicles with a registered laden weight above 12,000 kg, such as large trucks and buses |
| Special-type vehicle | Articulated vehicles, prime movers and road rollers |
| Vehicle for persons with disabilities | Vehicles adapted for drivers with a disability |
The weight bands for medium and heavy vehicles come from section 2 of the Road Transport Act 2018. Light vehicles sit below the medium band. Some older guides quote 2,500 kg and 6,500 kg as the limits; those figures do not match the current Act.
The Act defines a microbus as a vehicle that carries 8 to 15 passengers plus the driver. If you are unsure which class a vehicle falls in, check the laden weight on its registration papers. If you plan to drive goods vehicles, our guide to truck sizes in Bangladesh shows the common sizes from 7 ft pickups to 23 ft trucks.
What “Light and Motorcycle” on a licence means
A licence can list more than one category, such as light and motorcycle. That combination means the holder passed the test for both and can drive a car, jeep, microbus or pickup as well as a motorcycle. The learner form lets you apply for two categories together for a single fee of Tk 748.
Each category has to be on your licence before you drive that kind of vehicle. A light licence does not cover a motorcycle, and a motorcycle licence does not cover a car. The one exception in the Act runs upward: under section 4(2), a heavy licence holder may also drive light and medium vehicles. The Act gives this allowance only to heavy licence holders, so check the categories printed on your card.
To add a category later, you have to pass the test for that category.
Moving up: light to medium to heavy
Professional drivers usually move up one class at a time. Under BRTA’s long-standing practice, you hold a professional light licence for three years before applying for medium, and a medium licence for three years before applying for heavy. The government relaxed these waiting periods several times between 2018 and 2021, but we found no relaxation in force in 2026.
Our step-by-step guide on how to get a heavy driving licence in Bangladesh covers the documents, BSP steps, fees and dope test for the final step up.
Other licences and permits
Driving instructor licence
People who teach driving for payment need a driving instructor licence. BRTA issues it on Form-39, under rule 155(7) of the road transport rules, and it lists the same seven vehicle categories as the driving licence. An instructor can only teach the categories marked on their licence. BRTA has not published the eligibility rules and fee online in a form we could confirm, so ask your BRTA circle office before applying.
Public transport drivers
Older licences sometimes show a PSV (public service vehicle) category. The Road Transport Act 2018 does not use that term. Instead, section 5(1) requires anyone driving public transport to have the authority’s permission in addition to a professional licence in the right category.
International Driving Permit
If you plan to drive abroad, you need an International Driving Permit from the Automobile Association of Bangladesh (AAB), which is the only issuer in the country. You need a BRTA licence that is valid for at least one more month, your NID, passport and photos. The permit is valid for 12 months and cannot be renewed.
AAB prices the permit by the categories on your licence and how fast you want it. In its January 2025 notes, regular processing (20 working days) costs Tk 3,700 for a motorcycle-only licence and Tk 4,700 for light or light and motorcycle. The fastest same-day service for the widest set of categories costs Tk 19,700.
Renewal and the e-paper licence
A non-professional licence lasts 10 years and a professional licence lasts 5. You renew both through the BRTA Service Portal. Renewal fees reported in 2024 were Tk 4,212 for non-professional and Tk 2,487 for professional licences, with a late fee of Tk 518 for each year after expiry; BRTA has not published these in a form we could confirm, so check the amount on BSP. Professional drivers also need a fresh dope test to renew.
If your licence has already expired, BRTA has allowed renewals without late fines until 29 October 2026 and has called this the final extension, as the Daily Observer reported.
Smart card printing has been delayed since BRTA’s contract with its card supplier ended in July 2025, according to TBS. Until your card arrives, you can download a QR-coded e-paper licence from BSP. BRTA has told police and government offices to accept it, so keep a printed copy and a copy on your phone.
Which licence do you need?
| You want to | Licence type | Category |
|---|---|---|
| Ride your own motorcycle | Non-professional | Motorcycle |
| Drive your own car | Non-professional | Light |
| Drive a car or pickup for pay, including ride-share | Professional | Light |
| Drive a CNG autorickshaw | Professional | Three-wheeler |
| Drive a medium truck or minibus | Professional | Medium |
| Drive a large truck, covered van or bus | Professional | Heavy |
| Drive a prime mover or trailer | Professional | Special-type |
| Teach driving for payment | Driving instructor licence | The categories you will teach |
| Drive abroad | International Driving Permit | Matches your BRTA licence |
Penalties for driving outside your category
Driving without a valid licence, or driving a vehicle outside the category on your licence, can bring up to six months in prison, a fine of up to Tk 25,000, or both, under section 66 of the Road Transport Act 2018. BRTA repeated this warning in April 2026, as Dhaka Times reported.
Licences also carry demerit points now. Every licence has 12 points, and BRTA began deducting them for traffic offences in June 2026. Most offences cost one point, and overloading a vehicle costs two, according to a BRTA notice reported by Bangla Tribune. Lose all 12 and the licence is cancelled.
How to apply
Every licence application starts on the BRTA Service Portal. You create an account with your NID and mobile number, apply for a learner licence in the categories you want, pay online and wait for your test date by SMS. The documents and steps are the same for every category; our heavy licence guide walks through each one.
If you already drive a truck and want more trips, you can register on the Truck Lagbe Owner app with your driving licence and NID.
Read more about earning with your truck on Truck Lagbe or download the app.
Frequently asked questions
How many types of driving licence are there in Bangladesh?
There are three types: learner, non-professional and professional. Each licence can cover one or more of seven vehicle categories: motorcycle, three-wheeler, light, medium, heavy, special-type and vehicles for persons with disabilities.
What is a light driving licence?
A light licence lets you drive light motor vehicles such as cars, jeeps, microbuses and pickups. It does not cover motorcycles, which need their own category.
What is a professional driving licence?
It is the licence for people who drive as a job. You must be at least 21, have passed Class 8, pass the driving tests and submit a dope test report. It is valid for five years.
What is the minimum age for a driving licence in Bangladesh?
The minimum age is 18 for a non-professional licence and 21 for a professional licence, under section 6(2) of the Road Transport Act 2018.
Can a light licence holder drive a pickup or microbus?
Yes, if the vehicle falls within the light class. A pickup or microbus driven for pay needs a professional light licence.
Can I drive with an e-paper licence?
Yes. Once your licence is approved, you can download a QR-coded e-paper licence from the BRTA Service Portal, and BRTA has told police to accept it while smart cards are delayed.
